Pros

Cons

No creature comforts, such as dedicated macro keys or USB pass-through ports.

Bottom Line

If premium features aren't what you're after, HyperX's Alloy Origins may be the nicest no-nonsense midrange mechanical keyboard around.

Oct. 15, 2019

HyperX's newest keyboard, the $109.99 Alloy Origins, is a keyboard nerd's kind of gear. It's a simple mechanical keyboard, but it's well-crafted and feels good to type on. The pieces that set it apart are its new proprietary switches, dubbed HyperX Red, which thread the needle between Cherry's and Razer's comparable parts. It doesn't have flourishes and frills such as USB pass-through ports, dedicated macro keys, or a volume dial, but it's among the best midrange mechanical keyboards I've used in recent memory, and it earns our Editors' Choice award for its class.

HyperX Red: Switching It Up

Like most HyperX gear, the Alloy Origins has a subtle, understated quality to it. The full-size board's aluminum-coated base and black keys look sleek, without feeling showy (until you turn on the RGB light show, of course).

Its compact frame—1.4 by 17.4 by 5.2 inches—and metal-coated base make it look dense, and at 2.3 pounds it feels slightly heavy for its size. (Full disclosure: That may be because, lately, I've been using a lot of keyboard and mouse hardware designed for esports, and that stuff is built to be extra light.)

Enough about how it looks; let's talk about how it types. As mentioned, the Alloy Origins represents HyperX's first foray into making its own mechanical switches. The HyperX Red switch is, like the Cherry MX Red it approximates, a quick-tapping, linear switch. Its actuation point and total key travel are just slightly less than Cherry's: The HyperX keys actuate at 1.8mm versus 2mm for Cherry Reds and bottom out at 3.8mm versus 4mm. (This requires a slightly deeper push than Razer's hair-trigger Yellow switch, which actuates at 1.2mm and sinks to 3.5mm at a full press.)

Sure, this sounds like a minuscule difference, but that's a good thing—it's just enough distance to notice a change, to make your keystrokes feel a bit quicker, without losing the comfort of long or "high-profile" key travel. In everyday typing on the Alloy Origins, I rarely noticed the shorter travel, which makes it a comfortable all-around keyboard, even while trimming a little distance off every stroke. In twitch-centric action games, on the other hand, you may actually notice the difference, since timing is so much more important. It feels like the best of both worlds.

While the Alloy Origins does not, as I said, have the deluxe features that tend to earn high marks for gaming keyboards, it does pack a couple of small extras. First, it connects to your PC using a detachable USB Type-C cable, which is nice for players who travel with their gear and want to avoid stressing the joint between keyboard and cable. It also has a thin LED display at top right, which shows which keyboard profile you're using. Given the unit's portability and trim footprint, this board is a decent option for competitive players who want a full 104 keys, as opposed to a "tenkeyless" form factor, which has become standard for hardcore esports kit. (A tenkeyless board lacks a number pad.)

A Gamer's NGenuity

The Alloy Origins uses HyperX's still-in-beta configuration software, NGenuity, for resetting keys, creating macros, and customizing the keyboard's RGB lighting. Like the Alloy Origins, NGenuity looks quite sleek, and the UI is mostly clear on how to change functions. You can preview, for example, on the onscreen display just how lighting changes will look.

The Alloy can store up to three keyboard profiles onboard, which is a little on the low side, but normal for this tier of keyboard. You can store as many profiles as you like on your PC, so your ability to create lots of game-specific profiles doesn't get crimped if you'll keep this keyboard parked on one system.

Some parts of NGenuity feel like a work in progress, however. As I write this, new lighting patterns have appeared following new patches over the last couple of weeks. I've also encountered some mild connectivity issues—the software occasionally failed to detect the keyboard even though my PC did. (This always cleared up once I disconnected and reconnected the keyboard.)

I did note some less-than-stellar UI decisions. To create a macro, you must click a key, select Macro, then create one. With most keyboard configuration software I've seen, the macro editor is a separate menu option from the key mapping. (You make your macro, then go assign it.) NGenuity's approach makes it harder to figure out how to make and use macros unless you think about them in a specific way. It's a small thing, but one among a handful of quirks that could use a little more TLC.

Setting a New Baseline

The HyperX Alloy Origins is a solid entry among $100-to-$130 mechanical gaming keyboards—units normally made with premium parts for a high-end feel but lacking the size and special features of flagship devices. At $109.99, the HyperX is cheaper than the Razer BlackWidow ($119.99) and the Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 4 ($129.99). Even it wasn't, though, I'd say it's a better choice than either of those boards, thanks to its unique feel.

It's up to you, though, whether what you're after is the utilitarian mechanical-keyboard ride or a luxury one with the extra cupholders and leather seats. The Alloy Origins is more Honda than Acura, but for some shoppers, the solidly made basic wheels make the most sense.

About the Author

Mike Epstein is a freelance technology and culture critic based in New York. You may have read or seen his tech and gaming coverage at IGN, Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Variety, Digital Trends, and, of course, PCMag. When he’s not playing video games or checking out new gear, he is probably… asleep. You can find him on Twitter @Bombur. See Full Bio